Intel Wireless-AC: Why the New Standard Matters

The last time wireless standards were upgraded was with 802.11n Wi-Fi in 2007. The old standard was great for home use where one or two laptops were connected to the network. But things have changed. Today’s connected households have way more Wi-Fi enabled devices. According to data from the Pew Research Center, over 60 percent of Americans now have a smartphone and half have a tablet or e-reader. Plus, today’s laptops are doing a lot more than just browsing the web and checking email.

Would you still be using a computer or phone from several years ago if given a new option? Would you even be relying on the same service package from your Internet service provider? Relying on wireless technology just as old can put you in a similarly frustrating circumstance.

From downloading music to streaming movies, joining online multiplayer games to sharing files with friends and family, modern households need a better way to stay connected across several devices at the same time without interruption. Enter 802.11ac Wi-Fi. With up to 3x the speed and 3x more capacity than that of 802.11n, the new wireless standard is poised to give consumers the functionality they need for the modern Internet.

Plus, 802.11ac wireless has less interference from other, older wireless devices and a greater range, allowing you to be farther away from your 802.11ac router. And because devices with the new wireless standard can still connect to older networks, you don’t have to worry about backwards compatibility.

Now that 802.11ac has become the new wireless standard, it’s important to make sure your next device is equipped with Intel Wireless-AC to ensure you’re prepared for future connectivity and to avoid frustrating downtime and lag as more and more devices require more and more data when operating online. For example, according to a recent report from Cisco, online video alone will soon make up 79 percent of all IP traffic, and HD video will account for 52 percent of that traffic. Furthermore, Cisco predicts that Wi-Fi and mobile-connected devices will generate the majority of IP traffic. Though eventually all new devices will carry the 802.11ac standard, there are only a select number of 2 in 1 devices and laptops in the market that come equipped with Intel Wireless-AC. To see a full list to decide when to upgrade, visit: intel.com/wireless